Ali’i draws first blood in DLX semis

Ali’i’s Ivan Devero is seen here pulling up for the go-ahead basket in their 67-64 playoff win over the ICS Shooters in the DLX/IT&E caging last week at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. Ali’i extended its streak last Friday with a 69-50 victory over Flip Top at the start of the semis round. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ali’i held Flip Top to 10 points each in the first and second quarters to set up the easy victory and boost its bid for one of the finals berth in the IT&E-sponsored league. Ali’i, Flip Top, I Love Saipan, and Gwap Gang play in a round-robin semifinals with the Top 2 teams advancing to the finals.

The first match in the round-robin semis was a low-scoring game with Ali’i slightly having the edge after the first period, 14-10. Karlo De Leon lifted Ali’i to a four-point lead after scoring eight straight points early in the first canto. He nearly matched the entire output of Flip Top, which made only four field goals with Genesis Mamaril the lone player on the squad hitting more than one basket in the kick-off quarter.

In the second period, Flip Top continued to struggle and was held to another 10-point production and four field goals. Again, only one player nailed more than one two-point basket for Flip Top with Donald Hockett converting back-to-back shots.

On the other hand, Ali’i began to spread the wealth in the second canto with Raymond Velasco and Kobe Mendoza, who were scoreless in the first period, chipping in five markers apiece. Four other Ali’i players contributed in the second canto, which ended with Mendoza making three straight charities for their double-digit advantage, 32-20.

Ali’i protected the twin-digit lead, as Flip Top failed to find a way to get its offensive game going with only Darwin Barbo consistently knocking in his shots in the second half.

In contrast, Ali’i had different players stepping up in every quarter with Bart Demapan dropping all his 10 points in the third frame to give his team a baker’s dozen, 47-34. Then in the fourth canto, it was Errol Peredo’s turn to produce for Ali’i, drilling eight of his 11 in the payoff period, while getting enough support from his teammates.

Meanwhile, results of the second match between Gwap Gang and I Love Saipan will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition, while the rained-out games last Saturday are rescheduled for Wednesday.

Ali’i 69 – Peredo 13, De Leon 11, Demapan 10, Mendoza 7, De Dios 6, Velasco 6, Devero 5, Mateo 2.

Flip Top 50 – Barbo 19, Hockett 11, Quitugua 7, Mamaril 5, Aguon 5, Vidal 3.

Scoring by quarters: 14-10, 32-20, 47-34, 69-50.